It may be nearly two years until the next Scottish Parliament election but the Scottish Conservatives have already selected their candidate for Moray.
Buckie councillor Tim Eagle has been selected to try and win the seat for the first time for the party in the 2021 contest.
Moray has been held by the SNP since the Scottish Parliament was formed in 1999 with incumbent Richard Lochhead representing the area since a by-election in 2006.
Mr Eagle, who is a former police officer in Caithness and currently runs a small farm in Drybridge while working as an agricultural assessor, said he was “honoured” to be selected.
He said: “I know this will not be easy but I want to show that the Scottish Conservatives have some really good ideas and policies and the benefits these can bring.”
“I know some won’t believe me, but this is not about myself standing for election, it is about working together across Moray, reuniting divided opinions and providing a strong voice for the area.”
Mr Eagle currently serves as the leader of the Conservative group at Moray Council.
Neil McLeod, chairman of the Moray Conservative Association, said: “Tim is well known across Moray for the hard work he does as a councillor and as leader of the Conservative group of councillors and we know that his hard work and dedication make him the perfect candidate to represent us all in Moray at the Scottish Parliament.”
